Invalid&#39;s bed



March 14, 1950 SEEM 2,500,740

INVALIDS BED Filed April 50, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN V EN TOR.

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Patented Mar. 14, 195i) UNITED STATES TENT OFFICE INVALID S BED Application April 30, 1945, Serial No. 591,099

Claims.

Thisinvention. relates to invalids beds and has as its general object to provide, in such abed, an improved disappearing lavatory mechanism.

More specifically, the invention aims to provide a lavatory which is mounted for translatory movement from a position beneath a bed, around the side of the bed and upwardly, and thence to a position projecting over the bed, while remaining inan upright position (a position wherein thelavatory bowl faces upwardly) at all times.

A further object is to provide a lavatory mechanism including a lavatory bowl and a supporting frame therefor, arranged for movement of the bowl as aforesaid, and wherein the frame serves the additional function of providing plumbing connections for conveying water to the lavatory faucets and carrying away the waste from the bowl.

Another object is to provide a lavatory mechanism which, in addition to the characteristics above described, is of relatively simple and yet extremely serviceable construction.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent in the following detailed specifications and the appended drawings, in which:

Fig.1 is a plan view of a bed embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of a portion of the bed, and

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken as indicated: by the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

As an example of one. form in which the invention may be embodied, I have shown in the accompanying drawings an invalids bed which is constructed generally in accordance with the invention disclosed in my application, Serial No.

1 545;937, filed July 21,. 1944, for Hospital beds,

which has become abandoned. Such a bed, in general, comprises a head til and foot 5 i connected. by sides I2 and I31 and suitable framework including; a top: frame- I5, with. spring sections l6, l1, l8, l9, and and a toilet seat section 2!; all cooperating with. corresponding mattress sections (not shown) carried by the respective sections r641, inclusive, to define a cabinet; or enclosure: for: the. mechanisms of the bed facilities. Such. facilities include mechanism for raising the. sections: iii-21 to conventional reclining-seat. positions, and a; toiletv which is provided with mechanism. for elevating it to a position cooperating with. a suitableopening in theframe section 2|, all as shown: in my pending application aforesaid, and since such mechanismsform no part of the present invention,

rollers 21 supporting it onthe. frame l5 and adapted to roll thereon to permit this removable unit to be rolled from the bed onto a suitableambulatory cart.

The present invention provides, in such a bed,

a disappearing lavatory mechanism including a lavatory bowl 28, supported upon a frame 29. The frame 29 comprises a pair of tube sections 30 and 3!- connected by transverse struts 32 rigidly secured thereto (as by welding) and having a vertical arm 33 and a horizontal arm- 34. The upper ends of the arms 33 are attached to the bowl 28.

The arms 34 are pivoted, at 35, to two pairs of crank arms 36 and 31 respectively. The arms 36 and 31 are mounted on shafts 38 and 39 respectively, of conventional wormtype gear re duction units 42 which are driven, through a common shaft 43, by an electric motor 44. The

gear units 42 and motor &4 are mounted on a Extending through the tube 31 are a pairof hot and cold water supply tubes ll and 4-3 leading respectively from faucets t9 and 50.

52 is connected to a flexible hose 53 which leads to a drain outlet pipe 54. 55 and 56 lead from ends of the water supply tubes 41 and 45- (which project from the side of the horizontal arm of the tube 3!) to hotand cold water supply pipes 57 and 58 respectively. The lavatory mechanism is normally concealed within the bed cabinet in the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3, with the arms 36- and 31 inclined downwardly. From this position the arms 35 and 31 may oscillate, as indicated by the arrow 59, to project the lavatory in a generally horizontal direction through a-door open ing Etl in the: side panel 12 of the bed cabinet, and to thence swing the lavatory upwardly around the side of the bed and back over the topof the bed to a position, such as that shown A drainoutlet Si is connectedtto the tube 30, near theupper end thereof, the lower end of the tubebeing capped as shown. From the side of the horizontal arm of the tube 33, an outlet nipple Similar flexible hoses ence to the paths of arcuate movement of the nipple 52 and the ends of the tubes 41 and i3 which are connected to the hoses 55 and 56.

The gearing together of the two pairs of arms 36, 37 provides for the parallel synchronous movement of the arms which maintain. the lavatory frame level in all of its positions.

For returning the lavatory to its concealed position, the motor 44, which is a reversible motor, is operated in the opposite direction.

The door opening 60 may be closed by a door 6| when the lavatory is not being used.

I claim as my invention: 1. In combination with a bed comprising a cabinet structure having a door in its side and a mattress supporting top, lavatory mechanism comprisin a frame including an L-shaped memher having a horizontal arm and a vertical arm, a lavatory bowl supported on the upper end of the vertical arm, and means attached to the horizontal arm and supportin the frame for translatory movement of the bowl from a position disposed within the cabinet to a position projecting over the top of the bed from the side thereof, with said horizontal arm disposed largely within the cabinet and said vertical arm projecting upwardly adjacent the side of said top.

2. A lavatory mechanism as defined in claim 1, wherein said L-shaped member constitutes part of a movable plumbing connection between said bowl and a fixed plumbing connection within the cabinet.

3. Disappearing lavatory mechanism for a bed having a mattress supporting top, comprising a frame including a pair of parallel members each having a substantially horizontal arm and an upwardly extending arm and means securing said members in spaced relation; a lavatory bowl supported on the upper ends of said upwardly extending arms; a pair of reduction gear units each having a horizontal shaft with end portions projecting on either side thereof; a motor for synchronously driving said gear units; means supporting said motor and gear units in posttions lying between and clearing the vertical planes of said parallel members; and four supporting arms arranged in pairs each secured at one end on a respective end of one of said shafts and pivoted at its other end to one of said horizontal arms; said supporting arms being adapted to be synchronously oscillated by said gear units from depending positions supporting said frame and bowl in a position wherein both are entirely received within the space defined below said top, in an arcuate path wherein the bowl moves first in a generally horizontal direction out from under said top and then upi wardly, clearin the side of said top and thence inwardly over the side region of said top, with supporting arms inclined upwardly and inwardly away from the aforesaid side of said top.

4. In a bed, in combination with a bed frame including a mattress supporting top, lavatory mechanism including a support, a lavatory bowl mounted on said support, mounting means fixed with reference to the bed frame, and means conmeeting said support to said mounting means and constraining said support for translatory movement in a fixed arcuate path in which the lavatory bowl moves from a position disposed beneath said top, thence outwardly and upwardly, clearing the side of the bed, to a position where it is accessible for use.

5. In a bed, in combination with a bed frame including a mattress supporting top, lavatory mechanism including a support, a lavatory bowl mounted on said support, mountin means fixed with reference to the bed frame, and means connecting said support to said mounting means and constraining said support for translatory movement in a fixed arcuate path in which the lavatory bowl moves from a position disposed beneath said top, thence outwardly and upwardly, clearing the side of the bed, thence upwardly and inwardly to a position projecting at least partially over the bed top from the side of the bed.

6. Lavatory mechanism as defined in claim 4, wherein said connecting means includes means for maintaining the bowl in a level position at all times.

'7. Lavatory mechanism as defined in claim 4, includin motor mechanism operating between said bed frame and said support, for power actuation of said support between said positions.

8. Lavatory mechanism as defined in claim 4, wherein said connecting means comprises four parallel arms arranged in pairs, horizontal shafts on which the respective pairs of arms are mounted for swinging movement in vertical planes, reduction gear units for driving said shafts, and a motor for driving said reduction gear units in unison.

9. In a bed, in combination with a bed frame having a mattress supporting top, lavatory mechanism comprising a support, mounting means fixed with reference to the bed frame, means connecting said support to the mounting means and adapted to carry and constrain said support and the bowl in a fixed path of movement from a position in which the bowl and support are stored beneath the bed, out of use, outwardly and upwardly. clearing the side of the bed. to

any of a plurality of positions ranging from a position alongside the bed top for use by a nurse bathing a patient to a position projecting at least partially over the bed top for self use by a patient.

10. In a bed, in combination with a bed frame having a mattress supporting top, lavatory mechanism comprising a support, mounting means fixed with reference to the bed frame, means conclearing the side of the bed, to any of a plurality of positions ranging from a position alongside the bed top for use by a nurse bathing a patient to a position projecting at least partially over the bed top for self use by a patient, and motor mechanism acting between said frame and said support for power operation of the bowl between all of said positions, said motor means being reversible for retracting the bowl back to the stored position.

11. In a bed, in combination with a bed frame:

having a mattress supporting top, lavatory mechanism comprising a support, mounting means fixed with. reference to thebed frame, means connecting said support to the mounting means and adapted to carry and constrain said support and the bowl in a path of movement from a position in which the bowl and support are stored beneath the bed, out of use, outwardly and up-- wardly, clearing the side of the bed, to any of a plurality of positions ranging from a position alongside the bed top for use by a nurse bathing a patient to a position projecting at least partially over the bed top for self use by a patient, and water supply and sewer conduits connecting said lavatory bowl to a water main and sewer outlet respectively, said conduits including movable connections permitting the aforesaid movement of the lavatory bowl.

12. In a bed, in combination with a bed frame having a mattress supporting top, lavatory mechanism comprising a support, mounting means fixed with reference to the bed frame, means connecting said support to the mounting means and adapted to carry and constrain said support and the bowl in a path of movement from a position in which the bowl and support are stored beneath the bed, out of use, outwardly and upwardly, clearing the side of the bed, to any of a plurality of positions ranging from a position alongside the bed top for use by a nurse bathing a patient to a position projecting at least partially over the bed top for self use by a patient, and motor mechanism acting between said mounting means and said support for power operation of the bowl between all of said positions, said motor means being reversible for retracting the bowl back to the stored position, and water supply and sewer conduits connecting said lavatory bowl to a water main and sewer outlet respectively, said conduits including movable connections permitting the aforesaid movement of the lavatory bowl.

13. In a bed, in combination with a bed frame including a mattress supporting top, lavatory mechanism including a support, a lavatory bowl mounted on said support, mounting means fixed with reference to the bed frame, and means connecting said support to said mounting means and constraining said support for translatory movement in a fixed path from a position disposed beneath the top, thence outwardly and upwardly, clearing the side of the bed, to a position where it is accessible for use.

14. In a bed, in combination with a bed frame including a mattress supporting top, lavatory mechanism including a support, a lavatory bowl mounted on said support, mounting means fixed with reference to the bed frame, and means connecting said support to said mounting means and constraining said support for translatory movement in an arcuate path in a vertical plane from a position disposed beneath the top, thence outwardly and upwardly, clearing the side of the bed, to a position projecting at least partially over the bed top from the side of the bed.

15. In a bed, in combination with a bed frame including a mattress supporting top, lavatory mechanism including a support, a lavatory bowl mounted on said support, mounting means fixed with reference to the bed frame, and means connecting said support to said mounting means and constraining said support for translatory movement in an arcuate path about a single fixed axis from a position disposed beneath said top, thence outwardly and upwardly, clearing the side of the bed, to a position where it is accessible for use.

MARVEL BEEM.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,129,412 Manning Feb. 23, 1915 1,491,781 Axen Apr. 29, 1924 1,719,938 Kushner July 9, 1929 1,869,036 Zink July 26, 1932 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 182,339 Switzerland Apr. 16, 1936 

